Capsule dispenser



April 28, 1953 H. C. Mc 2,636,469

CAPSULE DISPENSER Filed Jan. 9, 1952 2 SX-IEETS-SHEET l Fig.3 Fig.4 I8 I2 36 90 I2 Y \Al\ I g z I v n j i Z i; 30 1 I I 5 32 5-40 I 1 i? j I I 3 I 38 I g I a a z I I fl I a a I 21111111111117 III:

Hosmere C. McKay INVENTOR.

(Wavy 8m Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE W CAPSULE DISPENSER Hosmere C. McKay, Portland, Conn.

Application January 9, 1952, Serial No. 265,694

Claims. (01.116-133) This invention relates to a dispenser and particularly for a dispenser for recording the last dispensing therefrom. Those persons who must habitually take pills, medicines or other things at stated intervals frequently have difiiculty in remembering whether the particular dosage or operation has last been taken.

The present invention provides a dispensing container in which there is a recording device operated by removing the material from the dispenser to remind the user when the last was used or when the next is due. In general, it requires the use of one or more star wheels mounted for gradative operation so that the opening or clos- I ing of the container will actuate the recording device which can be easily seen through windows or other means outside of the container.

It is accordingly an object of thisinvention to provide an improved dispenser.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a dispensing container having means for registering the last use thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a recording dispensory having a plurality of records thereon.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the recording dispenser according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a section through the dispenser showing the gradatim wheel and taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section showing the mounting of the gradatim wheel and taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the record wheel;

Figure 6 is a perspective of a modification having a plurality of record wheels;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 1-1 of Figure 9 and showing the mounting of the plurality of step-by-step wheels;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 99 of Figure 7 but showing the closure in open position;

Figure 9 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 9--9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a plan view of a secondary gradatim wheel;

. Figure 11 is a plan view of a primary three-aday gradatim wheel; and,

Figure 12 is a back view of a tWo-a-day primary wheel.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a container I!) is provided with a top l2 which slides in a groove l4 and is operated by a thumb grip l6. Preferably a portion of the top of the closure I2 is provided with a roughened portion l8 to assist in getting a grip on the portion IS.

A partition 2!) which slides in grooves 22 on the inside of the container Ill divides the container into a plurality of compartments 24 and 26. The compartment 24 being of relatively large size and adapted to contain the pills, capsules or other material which is to be dispensed.

The compartment 26 is of relatively narrow dimensions and extends along one side of the container and is used to shield and protect a plurality of gradatim .wheels which carry certain data which should be periodically produced in windows 28 visible from the outside of thecontainer. The record wheel 30 is mounted on a stub shaft 32 which is preferably integral with or thoroughly secured to the partition wall 20. The gradatim wheel 36 is provided with a plurality of peripheral teeth 34 and the cover 12 is provided with a resilient finger 38 which engages the teeth 34 and when the cover is closed will actuate the wheel 30 in step-by-step or gradatim relation. In order to prevent reverse rotation of the wheel 30 by the withdrawal of the closure l 8 a resilient stop 38 is mounted in the compartment 26 and likewise engages the teeth 34 to prevent reverse rotation of the wheel 30.

That portion of the wheel 30 which can be seen through the window is provided with suitable indicia 40 herein shown as indicating the days of the week. Obviously any suitable data such as hours of the day, days of the month or any other arrangement could be suitably inscribed on the data wheel.

The modification according to Figures 1 to 5 is particularly useful for those individuals who expect to make a single operation each day of the week. However, it frequently happens that the pills must be takenor the operation performed a multiple number of times per day. For this purpose it is desirable" to use more than one record wheel and to make the second record wheel operate according to the operation of the first record wheel, I

A dispenser having a multiple indicator is indicated in Figures 6 to 12 inclusive. In this modi-' fication the container 50 is provided witha cover 52 and is provided with a partition wall 54 having stub axles 56 and 58. A toothed wheel 60 is mounted on the stub shaft156 and is provided with a collar 62 providing a space 64 between the wheel 60 and the partition '54. i The movable cover 52 is provided with a spring finger. which engages the teeth, 68.0f1the1Wheel 80,so that closing the coveradvancesthe. gradatim wheel 60 a full step. A resilient stop 10 is mounted in the compartment and also engages one of the teeth 68 to prevent reverse rotation of the wheel 60. A stellate wheel 12 is mounted on the stub sha fttfl and a portion of the periphery of the st'ellate wheel I2 lies between the toothed wheel 6i] and the partition 53, so that the wheels substantially overlie each other adja-.

cent one edge thereof. provided with actuating studs 14 and t6 herein shown as being at opposite positions on the wheel The toothed wheel 60 'is' 60 and having three steps thereb'etween so that" the primary wheel 60 is a thi'ee step' wheel or :a';

influence of thestuds iii an the three=a-'day wheel preferably the .primary or toothed wheel is indicated as morning, noon or nightor other suitable indicia to indicate certain periods of the day, while the secondary wheel is preferably indicated the days of the'weelz, days of the month or other suitable indicia.

Fora two-'a-day' wheel the modification is indicated in Figui-elf? in which'three'of the studs 84 are mounted "on a modified toothed wheel 86 which can replace'the wheel 30 or 69. Obviously with this three toothed arrangement the star wheel will be advanced one step for each two steps of the primary" toothed wheel. Obviously the wheels 30, El! and 85 are inter? changeable so that the indication according to the particular case may be used. Obviously if the wheel 30 without the stud M- or '8 is utilized there will beno operation "of the secondary gra'datim wheel.

Inord'er to .preventmaterial from thecontainer from entering the compartment 25 the partition is provided with an inturned lip 90 covering that portion of the compartment 26 not covered or movedin by the finger-36. Likewise the cornpa'rtment a-nd wall-5i is provided with an inturned-lip 52 which likewise serves to keep medicines or other paraphernalia: from entering the record compartment andeiouling up the wheels. While. particular embodiments have been shown, and described according to the best pres"- ent understanding thereofiit will be apparent to those skilled in the: art, that many changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from thetrue "spirit of the-invention.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:,,

l. A dispensing-container comprising a box- Iike'body, a: portion in said body providing a narrow compartment adjacent one side of said container, a stub axle on said partition and extending substantially across said compartment, a toothed wheel mounted-on said axle, a cover on 'sai'dwcontainer; a: resilient finger on said cover and extending into said compartment, said toothed wheel. being mounted in the path of travel of saidfingergas'econd stub axle on said partition a stellate. wheel mounted on said sec= ondvax-le, star .point's'on said stellate wheel, said s'tellate' wheel; partially overlying said toothed wheeL-studs mounted on: said toothed wheel, said said wheels, the points of said stellate wheel being successively engaged by said studs.

2. A registering dispenser comprising a con- ,tainer, a cover operatively associated with said container, a toothed wheel mounted in said container adjacent one side thereof, said wheel extending in proximity to said cover, a resilient finger secured on said cover, said finger contacting a tooth of said wheel to provide gradatum movement of said wheel when said cover is operated to open and close said container, a resilient stop mounted on said container and engaging a tooth of said wheel for preventing backward rotation of said wheel, a stellate wheel mounted in said container, star points on said stellate wheel, said 'stellate wheel overlapping a portion of said toothed wlrieel, studs on said toothed wheel sequentially engaging the points of said stellate wheel.

3. A registering dispenser comprising a conta'iner, a sliding cov'ero'perativel'y associated with said container, a toothed wheel mounted in said Tc'ontain'er adjacent one side thereof, said wheel extending in proximity to said cover, a resilient finger'secur'ed in depending relationon said cover, said finger successively contacting the teeth on said wheel when said cover is operated to open and close said container to produce gradatum rotation of said wheel, a resilient stop yieldingly engaging the teeth of said wheel for preventing backward rotationxof said wheel, a stellate wheel mounted in said container, said stellate wheel overlapping a portion of said toothed wheel, studs on said toothed wheel sequentially engaging the points of said stellate wheel, indicia on said wheelst 1 i. A recording dispenser comprising a container, a cover operable to open and close said container, a toothed wheel mounted in said container, a finger on said cover successively engaging the teeth of said toothed wheel, whereby actuation of said cover rotates said wheel in stepby-step relation, a 'stellated wheel mounted in said containen'star pointson said stellated wheel, the points of said stellated wheel overlapping a portion of said toothed wheel, studs on said toothed wheel engaging said stellated' wheel for advancing said stellated wheel in gradation.

5. A recording dispenser comprising a "corrtainer, a cover operable to open and close said container, :3, toothed wheel mounted in said container-,a finger on said cover successfully engaging the teeth of said toothed wheel, whereby actuation of said cover rota es said wheel in stepby-step relation, ,a stellated wheel mounted in said containehstar points on said stellated wheel, the points of saidstellated wheel overlapping a portion of said toothed wheel, studs on said toothed wheel engaging said stellated wheel for advancing said stellated wheel in gradation, windows in said container, said windows exposing portionsof said wheels to view, and indicia on said wheels.

' HOSMERE C. MoKAY.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 73,112 Melvin Jan. '7, 1863 97,978 'Workm'an "Dealt, 1869 191,503 Wiseman May 29, 1877 2,313,428 Glenn Mar. 9, 19h

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